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HomePhotographyLensesMirrorless LensesSony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA

Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens

BH #SO5518 • MFR #SEL55F18Z
344 reviews
Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens
Key Features
  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
  • Three Aspherical Elements
  • ZEISS T* Anti-Reflective Coating
A perfect pairing for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens offers excellent resolution and a bright f/1.8 aperture for photographers looking for a high-performing normal-length prime.
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Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Overview

  • 1Description
  • 2Premier Portrait Prime
  • 3ZEISS Optical Design
  • 4Autofocus and Design
By B&H Photo's
Premier Portrait Prime
A perfect pairing for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras, the Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens offers excellent resolution and a bright f/1.8 aperture for photographers looking for a high-performing normal-length prime.
ZEISS Optical Design
  • Based on the ZEISS Sonnar optical concept, this lens uses a design with seven elements in five groups that helps achieve the large maximum aperture of f/1.8 while simultaneously reducing flare and improving contrast.
  • Bright f/1.8 maximum aperture allows users to create images with shallow depth of field and work in low-light conditions with relative ease.
  • Three aspherical elements, including two double-sided, are incorporated in the lens design to reduce astigmatism, field curvature, coma, and other monochromatic aberrations.
  • ZEISS T* anti-reflective coatings have been applied to each lens surface to help minimize reflections in order to provide greater image clarity, contrast, and color fidelity.
  • Rounded nine-blade diaphragm contributes to a pleasing bokeh quality when employing selective focus techniques.
Autofocus and Design
  • Linear autofocus motor and internal focus design provide quick and precise autofocus performance and enables accurate and silent focusing while recording videos.
  • Dust- and moisture-sealed design better permits working in inclement conditions and rubberized control rings benefit handling in colder temperatures.

Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Specs

Focal Length55mm
Maximum Aperturef/1.8
Minimum Aperturef/22
Lens MountSony E
Lens Format CoverageFull-Frame
Angle of View43°
Minimum Focus Distance1.64' / 50 cm
Maximum Magnification0.14x
Optical Design7 Elements in 5 Groups
Diaphragm Blades9, Rounded
Focus TypeAutofocus
Image StabilizationNo
Filter Size49 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L)2.54 x 2.78" / 64.52 x 70.61 mm
Weight9.91 oz / 281 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight1.2 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)8 x 4.4 x 4.3"

Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Reviews

Hard to love/fall in love with

By maxim
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-10-23

Okay, so I still haven't sold this lens-but every time I shoot with it, I swear that I am going to do so imminently. Here's why: The 55mm focal length is awkward, like dancing with one foot slightly longer than the other. It's always just a bit too tight for normal and not quite tight enough for telephoto. The sharpness/contrast is just unflattering and offensive. It makes people appear old and displeased-looking. And in low light the colors get distorted even more. It's as if they've tweaked the knobs to make an MTF chart look good and let everything else go to pot, with no consideration for whether a human being would ever want to look at it. I bought this strictly off of reviews, and my strong advice is that you should find a way to rent or borrow one before purchasing. I can't rightly explain it, it's Zeiss but tainted in some way...I haven't sold mine yet just because I want to be really sure that it's the lens and not me, but I really think it's the lens. For reference, I have an adapted manual Zeiss 50mm 1.4 Planar ZE, Zeiss 35 f2.8, Zeiss 85 1.8 for my A7RIIIa. I love all those lenses and the 'Zeiss rendering'...but the 55 just ain't got it.

Crazy sharp lens

By John
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-07-28

One of the sharpest lenses I've ever owned. It's madness.

Super sharp, lovely bokeh

By Intermediate Bob
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-06-06

This lens justifies the price. Mates perfectly with a7c to maintain a compact but very powerful combo. The evf on the camera had me wondering a bit about how the photos would translate, but once uploaded, I’m blown away by the sharpness and bokeh. Low light performance is excellent- I’ve yet to wish for a flash for any indoor shot with any light available. Highly recommend.

Great Lens

By Racheal
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-25

Great lens. Fast & sharp.

I love this lens.

By David
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-25

I'm surprised to love the lens as much as I do. I expected it to be a tad clinical, precise but no oomph. I was mistaken. It has soul. It renders beautiful color and layered presence. It is sharp from corner to corner, very fast and very accurate AF. Terrific in low light. I've never been a prime devotee cuz I like the flexibility and freedom that a good zoom can provide. But this lens has been on my a7R4a since I received it 3 weeks ago. And, of course, typically flawless B&H customer service and delivery all around. I'm a very happy shutterbug.

Love, love, love this lens...

By David
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-04-18

And to think I almost returned it. Using a new a7r IVA, I've bought and returned a couple of other lenses, looking for something I can sort of glue on to the camera. I bought a couple of Tamron zooms (17-28mm and 28-70mm) with the thought that these two would cover most of what I do. Street, landscape, general screwing around. I also bought this to try. I was going to send it back, but then I spent a few hours with it and changed my mind. Beautiful: Color, bokeh, focus, sharpness. This lens has the "soul" I've been looking for. I also bought and returned the 25mm Loxia, but had trouble with the manual focus. But that was a premature return, and I may give it another shot. The Zeiss optics really are stunning.

An Outstanding Lens, Besides One Critical Flaw

By Jacob
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2022-09-13

This lens is amazing, probably one of my favorites - even considering its flaws. It is razor sharp in the center and it's bokeh and chromatic aberration give the photos such character, I always get compliments on them. Not to mention it is one of the highest rated lenses on DXO Mark for Sony E mount cameras. The price is amazing for the quality too, and the autofocus is perfectly fast unlike the 50mm G Master. However - and it is a big however - if you intend on shooting video with this lens, you should reconsider purchasing it. For some wild reason, when your camera is set to continuous autofocus, the lens freaks out. It jumps in and out of focus extremely fast, almost like it's hunting for focus, but more like the motors are having a seizure - that's the best way to describe it unfortunately. It renders footage completely worthless. It is inconsistent too, it is hard to figure out exactly what causes it, but it's always there. It seems to be worse when the aperture is not wide open. And the saddest part is I have tried 3 different copies of the lens (my friends own them too, like I said, they are that good) and on several different cameras. All of them have the same issue. So, if you are looking for an amazing photo lens, look no further! This is it! But if you are hoping to shoot video on this lens, maybe don't.

Hunts for focus

By Andrew
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2022-08-22

I get the cult following on this lens. It's good. However when compared with many of the new e mount lenses out there the autofocus is behind. There's a significant amount of focus breathing and when photographing stills in less than good light it frequently hunts for focus. Using it on an a7c.

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YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS

question

Will this work on a7r or rII?
Asked by: Gary
Yes any lens with an E mount will work on the a7 series cameras. The FE in the name of the lens signifies it as an e -mount for a F ull frame sensor cameras, like the a7 series. The crop sensor lenses (lenses with just E not FE in the name), will also work pn the a7 cameras but will be cropped and have a vignette/shadow on the pictures due to the bigger sensor on the a7 series cameras.
Answered by: Stephen S.
Date published: 2018-08-25

question

Is there a way to set the focus distance from meters to feet on this lens? I am using it on the the AR7II. I cannot find a menu setting to change that anywhere. I know on the Batis lenses one can turn the focussing ring but that does not work on this lens. I am trying to figure out hyperfocal distances and I do have an app but I find it difficult to keep switching back to meter distances.
Asked by: lia R.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that this is a possible function using this lens.
Answered by: Heather S.
Date published: 2018-08-25

question

Why no OSS on this lens?
Asked by: Anonymous
Note IBIS (in body stabilization) is only available on the most recent/newer (Mark 2) A7 cameras like the A7R2, A7ii, and A7S2 which are at least 2000-3500 in cost. The first gen A7 cameras dont have IBIS. Usually you only need OSS when using a long/telephoto lens of 70mm or greater due to the increase in shake when zoomed in farther. Wide and normal lenses from 10 to 55 mm usually dont need extra stabilization as long as your shutter speed is above 1/125 sec or higher
Answered by: Stephen S.
Date published: 2020-12-31

question

Is this Lens compatible with the Sony FS700?
Asked by: Toks O.
Yes, and it will work fabulously. I use it on my a7s as well, gives wonderful images w/o having to pay a lot of $ for Cinema lenses
Answered by: DARREN L.
Date published: 2018-08-25

Which is best sigma 50mm f/1.4 art and this Zeiss ...

Which is best sigma 50mm f/1.4 art and this Zeiss 55mm f/1.8 ?
Asked by: Nakib
Both lenses are excellent, but the Sigma is slightly better in low light as it is 2/3 of a stop brighter.
Answered by: Kirk
Date published: 2020-12-14

How are the bokeh and focus breathing on this ...

How are the bokeh and focus breathing on this lens?
Asked by: Zachary
From testing in store and from owning this personally, the bokeh of the Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 is aesthetically quite pleasing and quite clean, although depending on what you're used to and your tolerance for "busy-ness", your own review might be skewed. It does have some focus breathing, which might be an issue in video.
Answered by: Jeremy
Date published: 2022-05-25

Can I use a lens that's made in the UK?

Can I use a lens that's made in the UK?
Asked by: Alexander
Yes, any E-mount Sony lens regardless of region will work on a Sony E-mount camera, like this incredible Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Sonnar T* lens!
Answered by: Jeremy
Date published: 2022-06-19

When using eye tracking for video on FX9 / 6 / 3, ...

When using eye tracking for video on FX9 / 6 / 3, does this AF perform as quickly and reliably as the 50mm F1.4?
Asked by: Blake
Yes, the performance on the Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens is similar to the Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA Lens with use on the Sony FX3 Full-Frame Cinema Camera, the Sony FX6 Full-Frame Cinema Camera (Body Only), and the Sony PXW-FX9 XDCAM 6K Full-Frame Camera System (Body Only).
Answered by: Richard
Date published: 2022-11-18
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